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Christians from across Prince Edward County gathered on Friday, March 6, at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church, this year’s host for the annual World Day of Prayer service. The event is part of a global ecumenical movement organized in Canada by the Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada, bringing Christians of many traditions together on a common day to pray for issues affecting women and children around the world.

Representatives from twelve area churches participated in the Picton service, reflecting the cooperative spirit that defines this international movement. Helen McLachlan and Mary Ellen Closson of St. Andrew’s were the organizers from our church. For those attending the service in Picton, the experience was deeply inspiring. Helen McLachlan described the gathering as “a very meaningful and moving service,” noting that knowing Christian women in more than 120 countries were praying on the same day created a powerful sense of global community.

World Day has been active for nearly 100 years. Each year, women from a different country write the worship service, sharing their culture, personal stories, and concerns for justice and peace. This year’s service was written by women of Nigeria and centred on the theme “I Will Give You Rest: Come” (Matthew 11:28–30). Their stories highlighted both the richness of Nigerian culture and the social challenges faced by many women and families.

Offerings collected during services around the world are placed into an international fund that provides grants that support projects empowering women and children.